SOURCE: iGaming Business

Leading online betting group, Betfair, has filed a claim with the High Court of Australia after the recent introduction of law outlawing betting exchanges—echoing the United States' UIGEA act.

Betfair’s motion seeks to have the law, which would see Western Australian bettors facing fines of up to AUS$10,000 or imprisonment for up to two years for having a flutter on betting exchanges, overturned as unconstitutional.

The new law both makes it illegal to operate and use a betting exchange. “The legislation effectively prevents Western Australian (WA) residents placing bets with Betfair and prevents betting exchanges operating in WA,” said Betfair's director of Corporate and Business Affairs, Andrew Twaits.

Although state regulated Totalisator Agency Boards (TAB) have offered off-site gambling for forty years all over Australia it is claimed that sites such as Betfair will damage the local racing industry by failing both to pay taxes and support the racing facilities themselves.